

The focus of our unit is the research in modern nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We are developing and applying modern experimental as well as computational magnetic resonance methods to create new tools to characterize physical properties of molecules, materials and nanosystems and to reliably interpret the acquired data with high accuracy using quantum-chemical calculations.
We also provide teaching in many courses in the physics curriculum, and supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses, which are based on our research. More information about offered B.Sc. and M.Sc. projects (in Finnish).
Finnish version of our group webpages can be found here.
The project aims to develop efficient approaches to model NMR parameters in large molecular systems at real physical conditions. This is achieved by combining state-of-the-art quantum chemical (QC) methods at relativistic level for heavy-element containing systems with atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations utilizing modern semi-empirical and machine learning (ML) approaches. The work is carried out in close collaboration with local and international experimental NMR researchers, where modeling is essential part providing predictions and microscopic interpretations of experimental observations. As a post-doctoral researcher, you will focus on developing QM/MD/ML-methods for large length- and time-scale simulations in new porous materials. The developed approaches will have great impact on materials NMR studies.
Application deadline: October 15, 2023.
For more information, see the application form.
Perttu Lantto has obtained financial support from Academy of Finland for a project about realistic modelling of NMR parameters of porous materials. Congratulations!
Otto Mankinen has received funding for Academy Research Fellow position from the Academy of Finland for Ultrafast Laplace NMR for biomaterials and energy solutions. Congratulations!
On May 11-12 our group will take turn in organizing the Finnish Computational Chemistry Days (CCD2023) here in Oulu. The registration and abstract submission is now open until April 14th. For more information click here.
Last year we organized a short survey about the experiences of our summer workers at our unit. You can find their answers here (in Finnish only).
We are also hiring for this summer! Some of the topics were are studying can be found in this link or click the image. Come and ask if you are interested and apply for the position here by 5th February.
Our doctoral researcher Perttu Hilla has been awarded by Section for Computational Chemistry of the Finnish Chemical Societies for his thesis ”Molecular Dynamics of Xenon in Cryptophane-A”. Congratulations!
Perttu will give a seminar about his thesis on Thursday January 26th. You can find more information about how to follow the seminar online on the webpages of the Finnish Chemical Societies.
The project aims to significantly shorten the experiment time of multidimensional relaxation and diffusion experiments and, at the same time, improve sensitivity by several orders of magnitude by modern hyperpolarization methods. This enables one to observe fast molecular processes in real time, and much lower concentrations become detectable. The method has many interesting applications in various disciplines, including chemistry, biochemistry, materials science and medicine; for example, they are utilized to better understand the role of aerosols in climate change, developing novel biosensors and characterization of alternative sustainable biomaterials and cements. In addition, it has potential to contribute significantly to the development of advanced, cost-efficient, low-field and mobile NMR techniques.
Application deadline: December 31st, 2022
For more information about the position, see the application form.
Five PhD student positions in the NMR field can be applied for at the University of Oulu, within the I4WORLD doctoral programme:
These positions are fully financed and for the duration of four years, starting at the latest on September 1, 2023. The application deadline is January 31, 2023. Detailed application instructions are given on the website of the doctoral programme.
Our researcher Anu Kantola has received funding from Academy of Finland for a project investigating optical detection of NMR. Congratulations!
Our article Hyper-CEST NMR of metal organic polyhedral cages reveals hidden diastereomers with diverse guest exchange kinetics that was recently published in Nature Communications has been picked for Editors’ Highlights in section Inorganic and physical chemistry.
The master's theses of Katja Tolkkinen and Perttu Hilla were selected among the finalists, and got honorary mentions for their work in the competition for Master's thesis prize by Finnish Physical Society. Katja worked on experimental NMR cryoporometry of porous materials and articular cartilage and Perttu theoretically modelled dynamics of xenon atoms for applications in biosensors. Both Katja and Perttu are now continuing their postgraduate research in our group. Congratulations!
Katja's blogpost
and her thesis
Perttu's video
and his thesis
Finnish Cultural Foundation has awarded grants for 2021 October call. Our postdoctoral researcher Otto Mankinen has received 30 000 EUR for development of ultrafast Laplace NMR of biomaterials, such as biofuels and lignin. Congratulations!
Are you interested in working with experimental or computational NMR? We are offering up to four summer work positions in our unit, both in experimental and computational group. Apply here. Deadline is 20 February.
Otto Mankinen received an award for exemplary doctoral thesis in Technical and Natural Sciences from the University of Oulu graduate school. Congratulations!
We are pleased to congratulate to our group members who have recently received prizes for presentations of their research. Jing Li has won the poster prize at AMPERE Summer school for her poster about Xe NMR in geopolymers. Sarah Mailhiot has been awarded Best Oral Presentation by a young scientist (funded by Magritek) at Compact NMR Conference II on her work about measuring D-T2 correlations in the magnetic stray field. Congratulations!
Professor Ville-Veikko Telkki has received funding from Academy of Finland for the project "Ultrafast Laplace NMR in biochemistry". Congratulations!
Professor Juha Vaara has been selected as one of the new members of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. Congratulations!
The exchange of molecules between different physical or chemical environments due to diffusion or chemical transformations has a crucial role in a plethora of fundamental processes such as breathing, protein folding, chemical reactions and catalysis.
Our Unit developed an NMR method to speed up the detection of molecular exchange to 10000-fold. The method is exploited in the climate change research to understand the composition of atmospheric aerosols in collaboration with the Nano and Molecular Systems (NANOMO) Research Unit at the University of Oulu. See the original article in Nature Communications.
[Spectroscopy Europe]
[Finnish news agency (In Finnish)]
[University of Oulu news (in Finnish)]
[AlphaGalileo]
[phys.org]
[@UniOulu twitter]
[Kemia (in Finnish)]
Our unit has received funding for a project Advanced NMR for sustainability as a part of Kvantum institue of the University of Oulu.
On July 27-29 the first Parahydrogen Enhanced Resonance Meeting (PERM) took place as a virtual conference, featuring a wide selection of exciting science. You can now watch a video recording of the contribution from our group detailing our recent progress in the field of nuclear magneto-optics.
Our group will open a new course Molecular magnetism in the upcoming second period the autumn semester 2020. For more information see the course description link or contact Akseli Mansikkamäki.
Professor Juha Vaara, head of the theoretical group in our unit, has received funding from Academy of Finland for the project Multiscale simulation of magnetic resonance physics. Congratulations!
Akseli Mansikkamäki has received a postdoctoral grant from the Academy of Finland for the research focusing on properties of single-molecule magnets.
Researchers from our group have confirmed predictions made in 1970 that NMR chemical shift depends on the strength of the magnetic field.
See article in Chemistry World and original article in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics featured in 2020 PCCP HOT Article Collection.
[Finnish News Agency (in Finnish)]
[University of Oulu news (in English) (in Finnish)]
[@UniOulu twitter]
[Tekniikka & Talous (in Finnish)]
[Kemia (in Finnish)]
Our recent article "Low-Concentration Measurements of Nuclear Spin-Induced Optical Rotation Using SABRE Hyperpolarization", published in prestigious The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, has been featured in multiple news outlets. You can read the full article about the emerging field of nuclear magneto-optics here. [Finnish News Agency (in Finnish)] [Spectroscopy Europe] [Phys.org] [Nanowerk] [AlphaGalileo] [@UniOulu twitter] [University of Oulu news in English (in Finnish)] [Tekniikka & Talous]
Vladimir Zhivonitko has received Project funding from the Academy of Finland for the research focusing on development of metal-free activators for parahydrogen to create biosensors for NMR and MRI studies.
Sarah Mailhiot has received a postdoctoral position from the Academy of Finland. Her project concerns application of NMR and MRI methods for investigation of new sustainable cement materials with low or zero carbon footprint.
The XLI Finnish NMR Symposium will take place on 5-7 June 2019 in Rokua Health & Spa. We are pleased to host three plenary speakers
Further information and registration dates will be announced on the official website of the conference http://nmrsymposium.fi/2019/.
Petr Štěpánek has received the postdoctoral researcher position from the Academy of Finland for the project concerning nuclear magneto-optic spectroscopy.
Ville-Veikko Telkki received an ERC consolidator grant (2.6 M€) for the development of ultrafast Laplace NMR.
News in English
News in Finnish
Ville-Veikko Telkki featured in a series about Finnish physicists (in Finnish) http://blogs.helsinki.fi/sfs-70/2017/11/30/ville-telkki-mullistaa-nmr-spektroskopiaa/
The NMR research group can be found at the Linnanmaa Campus, corridor G (red), G2 staircase, 3rd floor.
Internal University address: 3KEM
If you are interested in our research, collaboration, or want to study in our group, please contact prof. Juha Vaara or prof. Ville-Veikko Telkki.
NMR Research Unit
Faculty of Science
P.O. Box 3000
FIN-90014 University of Oulu
Finland
Tel: +358-294-48 1343 (theory)
Tel: +358-294-48 1309 (experiment)